Magazine type suturing clip applicator



0ct. 3, 1944. R MASKREY 2,359,574

MAGAZINE TYPE SUTURING CLIP APPLICATOR Filed NOV. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

1944. F. R. MASKREY 2,359,574

' MAGAZINE TYPE SUTURING CLIP APPLICATOR F-led Nov. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v WM 6 c y Y a #1 a W l sl l W IW V V II WF [am 9 Z 5 HY'ENTOR- fan a fey,

Patented Oct. 3, 1944 MAGAZINE TYPE SU'I UKING APPLIGATQR CLIP Frank R..Maskrey, Newark, N.. J

Application November 22, 1941, Serial No. 420,051

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel construction of suturing clip applicator of the self-feeding or magazine type.

This invention has for an object to provide a simple, compact and easily actuatable appliancefor suturing incisions or wounds in the flesh of a patient by means of surgical skin clips.

The invention has for another object to provide' an improved construction of suturing clip applicator devicehaving a magazine to hold a supply of surgical skin clips, and manipulatable clip applying means to which the clips are automatically fed from the magazine. 7

Theinvention has for a further object to provide in a surgical skin clip applicator, a pair of opposed clip engaging and applying jaw el'e. ments, together with novel manipulatable means for transmitting operative movement to said jaw' elements, whereby to quickly thrust a clip engaged thereby into theskin andthereupon bend the clip into operative attached relation to the latter and across an incision or wound opening desired tobe closed thereby.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this inventionis shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front face elevational view of the novel magazine type suturing clip applicator according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the upper portion of the applicator in transverse vertical section; Fig. 3 is a top end view of the applicator; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof, taken on line 4'4 in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5' is a fragmentary transverse vertical section'al view of the lower part of the applicator, showing the applying jaw elements thereof retraoted to normal initial position, said view being drawn upon a greatly enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a similar view, but showing the applying jaw elements as actuated and advanced for operative manipulation and application of a clip to a patients skin for closing an incision in the patients flesh.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, toindicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the, reference character I indicates the main body of the clip" appl-icator device, the same having a back wall II and side walls I2. Provided in the upper end of said body I0 is an upwardly open socket I3, thebottom of which is closed by a transverse partition plate I4, the latter being suitably afiixed in place. Below said partition plate I4, the interior of said body I'IJ provides a downwardly extending clip magazine compartment or chamber I5,

the mouth I6- of which opens outwardly from thelowerend of said body. Formed in the interior ides of the body'side walls I 2, for extension along the magazine'chamber I5, are descending clip guide channels I! which lead to the mouth I6- of said magazine chamber. Formed in the exterior sides of the body side walls I 2, to extend along the same, are passages or ways I8, parts of the outer sides of which are open. At their lower ends, said passages or ways I8 terminate in inwardly and downwardly inclined, and preferably curved, slideway portions I9, the lower ends of which intersect and communicate with the lower ends of said clipguide channels H, at points adjacent to the mouth It of said magazine chamber I5. Said slideway portions I9 are somewhat deeper than are the passages or ways I8, whereby to'provide stop shoulders 20 at the upper ends of the former; the outer sides of said slideway portions I9 being likewise open. The open outer sides of said passages or ways I8 and slideway portions I9 are closed by cover plates 2| which are suitably affixed to the body I0. The lower ends of the sides of the body HI and the lower portions 22 of the cover plates 2I are conformably shaped to correspond'to the inclination and curvature of the sIideway portions I9, whereby said cover plate lower portions 22 cooperate in the formation and completion of said slideway portions I9.

Slidabl'y mounted within the slideway portions [9 are jaw blocks 23, the lower ends of which are provided with inwardly open clip end receiving sockets 24, which are shaped to conform to the ends of the surgical skin clips to be manipulated thereby. The lower terminal portions of said jaw blocks are shaped to provide clip stop projections 25 below said sockets 24. At their upper ends, said jaw blocks 23 are provided with coupling ears 26, to which are pivotally connected the lower ends of connecting rods or links 21. These connecting rods or links 21 extend upwardly from the jaw blocks 23 through the passages or ways I8, until their upper ends project exteriorly from the latter at the upper end of the body I0.

th ust member 28, having at its upper portion Arranged intermediate the thrust member 28 and the partition plate [4 are one or more compres sion springs 32 which yieldably urge said thrust,

member 28 to its normal upraised position. Rigidly connected with the sides of the upper end portion of the body ID are oppositely and outwardly projecting finger pieces or abutments 33.

As urged by its control springs 32 to normal 7 upraised position, the thrust member 28 drawupwardly the connecting rods or links 21, whereby to. upwardly retractthe jaw blocks '23 to normal initial positions as determined by the abutment of their upperends against thelstop shoulders 20 (see Fig. 5) When the jaw blocks 23 occupy such-retracted normal initial position, the clip stop projections 2 5 are disposed in alignment with and across the lower ends of the clip guide channels I-T, whereby to engage and arrest outward movement or displacement of the lowermost skin clip contained in the magazine chamber l5 (see Fig, 5). 1

The skin clips C are deposited in the magazine chamber so as to form a vertical column or stack thereof, having their opposite terminal eyes centered in the clip guide channels I1, whereby the same are held against displacement as shown, comprises the provision, in connection with the front wall of the body ID, of a removable cover plate 36, so formed as to provide, on its internal sides, vertical guide ribs 31 which, when the cover plate is in place, are contiguous to and form removable side portions of the clip guide channels H, but which, when the cover plate is removed, laterally open said guide channels to access. To fill the magazine chamber with a stack or column of clips C, the cover plate is removed, whereupon the follower or presser plate 34 is raised and held up against the tension of its control spring 35, so as to give unimpeded access to the magazine chamber interior. Any suitable means may be provided for releasably holding said follower or presser plate 34 in said uplifted inactive position. Illustrative of one from their stack or column forming relation,

andr their downward movement through the magazine chamber l5, and toward the discharge mouth It of the latter, is properly guided and controlled. The clips C are thus stacked in the magazine chamber IS in such" disposition that their prongs c are downwardly directed. As above, indicated, downward movement of the column or stack is limited by the abutment of the terminal eyes 0 of the lowermost clip against the clip stop projections of the jawblocks 23. Although the clipsC will feed 'downto the jaw blocks '23 by gravity, it is preferabletoassist such downward movement by means which-will at the same time function to retain the clips against accidental displacement from their column or stack forming relation. To this end, there'is applied to the top end of the clip column or stack afollower or presser plate 34, the ends of which also ride in the clip guide channels I'I. Arranged between said followeror presser'plate 34 andthe partition plate l4 is'a compression spring. 35, which is preferably of comparatively light tension. Said spring 35 is operative to exert a' continuous downward thrust upon the followeror presser plate 34. and through it upon the clip column or stack, so as to both hold the clips making up the latter against displacement,

as well as to feed down the clips as the lowermost clipsare successively removed by the operation of the applicator device in use. I

. -Any suitable arrangement may be provided whereby a pluralityof skin clips C can be filled into the magazine: chamber IS in the desired column or stack forming relation, for movement downwardly therethrough as guided by the clip'guide channels H. An illustrative arrange ment adapted to serve the foregoing purpose,

extending sorew-threaded stud 38, and the back 7 wall H of the body 10 is provided with a, longitudinal slot-39 through which said stud 33 exteriorly projects. Threaded on the exteriorly pro jectingend portion of said stud 38 is a thumb nut 40. When the follower or presser plate is raised to uplifted position, it may be releasably held therein by tightening home said thumb nut 40, whereby to frictionally bind said follower or presser plate against downward movement. The magazine chamber interior being thus unimpededly exposed, the clips C may be deposited therein so that their respective terminal eyes 0 are lodged in the-opposite guide channels H. The lowermost clip, when thus enteredin the guide channels I1, is allowed to slide down therethrough until stopped by engagement with the stop portions .25 ofthe jaw blocks 23, whereupon successively deposited clips C are allowed to build or stack up 'one upon another until a desired stack or column thereof is formed and,

sufficiently fills the magazine chamber l5, whereupon the cover plate 36 is applied to close the latter, and then the follower or presser plate 34 is released, by loosening the thumb nut 40 to free it subject to the operative downward thrust of the spring 35 wherebyit is caused to operatively bear upon and thrust against the upper end of r the formed clip'stack or column.

' Said cover plate 36 may be secured in closed relation to the magazine chamber I5 and'its guide channels I Tin any suitablemanner, as, for example, by providing suitably disposed screwthreaded studs 4| outwardly projecting from the 7 body I0 to extend through openings in marginal portions of said cover plate, whereby to receive fastening nuts 42 'for holding the latter against displacement.

The applicator device having been charged with its content of clips C, the same is ready for use, and is manipulated and operates in use as follows: V

The operator grasps the'applicator by placing the index and middle fingers respectively under operatively positioned, the operator presses down the thrust member 28- by the thumb which engages its ring or push-piece 30. The downward movement of the thrust member 28 is transmitted through the connecting rod or links 2? to the jaw blocks 23, whereby said jaw blocks are slid downwardly and inwardly along the slideways 1-9 with a composite movement toward each other and outwardly from the discharge opening l6 until the terminal eyes of the lowermost clip are engaged by the sockets 24, whereupon continued downward movement of the jaw blocks 23 causes the clip prings c to pierce and enter the skin, while at the same time, owing to the accompanying inward thrust of the jaw blocks, the body of the clip Ci's bent or upwardly bowed so as to retain said prongs 0' against withdrawal, and so as to hold the incision closed at the point thus bridged by the applied clip.

In order to segregate the lowermost clip C from the remainder of the stack or column of clips, when said lowermost clip is engaged and manipulated by the downwardly and inwardly moving jaw blocks 23, or, in other words, to hold back and detain the clip column or stack so as to prevent risk of the same impeding the manipulation and bending of the operatively engaged clip, the jaw blocks may optionally be provided with automatically acting clip stack or column detent means. An illustrative embodiment of means for such purpose, as shown comprises leaf-spring type detent elements 43, which are afiixed by their upper ends to the inner sides of the jaw blocks, so as to extend along said sides, but so as to terminate short of the clip receiving sockets 24 of said jaw blocks. Said detent elements 43 possess an inherent tension tending, when unrestrained, to deflect. them outwardly and away from the inner sides of the jaw blocks, so that their free end portions will be projected between the lowermost clip and the following clip, which upon separation of said lowermost clip, defines. the bottom of the remainder of the clip stack or column. These detent elements 43 are opposed to the slideway surfaces l9, so that, when the jaw blocks 23 are upwardly retracted to normal initial positions, said detent elements 43 will be pressed back against their tension by the engaging slideway. surfaces l9, and their free end portions thus withdrawn from projection across the clip guide channels l1 and so as not to obstruct downward movement of clips therethrough (see Fig. When, however, the jaw blocks 23 are moved down to engage the lowermost clip, the free end portions of the detent elements 43 carried therewith, as they pass the terminal portions or shoulders 44 of the slideway surfaces I9, which are located above the point where the jaw block slideways intersect the clip guide channels ll, flex outwardly under the urge of their inherent tension, so as to pass between the terminal eyes 0' of the lowermost clip which is operative y engaged by the jaw blocks and those of the next clip above. The tensional force or thrust of said detent elements 43 being stronger than that of the follower or presser plate actuating spring 35, the engagement of said detent elements beneath the clip stack or column, from which the lowermost clip is removed by operation of the jaw blocks, is effective to restrain and hold back the clip stack or column against downward movement while said lowermost clip is being operatively manipulated by the jaw blocks (see Fig; 6). Return of the jaw blocks to normal initial positions, after operative manipulation of the lowermost clipand application thereof in suturing relation to an incision being treated, not only releases the applied clip but also carries back said. detent elements 43 soas to return the same behind the slideway sur faces [9, and. thus withdraws their free ends from engagement with the clip stack or column, whereupon the latter may descend to carry a succeeding clip into normal initial position as stopped by the stop projections 25, and thus disposed for operative engagement by the jaw blocks upon repetition of the above described operative manipulation of the applicator device.

While the use of the above described detent elements 43 may be desirable in many cases andwith some designs of skin clips, in other cases use thereof is not essential for the reason that the inward and downward inclination of the paths of movement-of the opposed jaw blocks is such that portions of the'latter above their receiving sockets 24 may be caused to directly engage and thrust back the remainder of the clip stack or column while the lowermost clip is being opera. tively manipulated and applied in suturing rela tion to an incision under treatment.

I am aware that various changes could be made in the above described constructions, and that widely dilferent embodiments of this in vention .could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1.. In a device for the purposes described, a body formed to provide an axially extending magazine chamber to hold a stack of clips for downward feeding movement toward the discharge mouth of said chamber, said body having at its sides downwardly and inwardly inclined slideways to ommunicate with the lower end of said chamber adjacent to its discharge mouth, jaw blocks slidably housed for longitudinal move-. ments through said slideways, opposed ends of said jaw blocks having means to engage ends of a clip disposed at the discharge mouth of said chamber, vertically reciprocable means for actuating said jaw blocks to discharge and operatively apply the engaged clip in suturing relation to an incision to which the device is applied, said latter means and said body respec-' tively having finger engageable means for manipulation thereof.

2'. In a device for the purposes described, a body formed to provide an axially extending magazine chamber to hold a stack of clips for downward feeding movement toward the discharge mouth of said chamber, said body hav ing at its sides downwardly and inwardly inclined' slideways to communicate with the lower end of said chamber adjacent to its discharge mouth, jaw blocks sl'idable in said slideways, opposed ends of said jaw blocks having means to engage ends of a clipdisposed at the discharge mouth of said chamber, a spring raised thrust member slidably mounted in the upper end portion of said body, links interconnecting said thrust member with said jaw blocks, and said thrust member and body having finger engageable means whereby to actuate the former for transmitting'operative sliding movement to said' jaw blocks to discharge and operatively apply 7 channels thereof,

the'engaged clip insuturin'g relation to an incision to which the device isapplied.

3. In a device for the purposes described, a body formed to provide an axially extending magazine chamber to hold a stack of clips and having guide channel at its sides in which the clip ends .ride for downward feeding movement toward the bottom discharge mouth of said chamber, said body having at its sides downwardly and inwardly inclined slideways disposed to, intersect said clip guide channels adjacent the discharge mouth of said chamber, jaw blocks slidable in said slideways, said jaw blocks having at their lower free ends clip end receiving sockets and clip stop projections extending therefrom whereby to engage the ends of 'a clip disposed at the discharge mouth of said chamber, a spring raised thrust memberislidably mounted in the upper end portion of said body, links internecting said thrust memberiwith said jaw blocks, and said thrust member and body having finger engageable means whereby to actuate the former for transmitting operative sliding movement to said jaw blocks to discharge and operatively apply the engaged clip in suturing relation to an incision to which the device is applied.

4. In a device for the purposes described as "defined in claim 3 including-a spring actuated follower plate within said body chamber and having its ends guidingly engaged in the guide said follower plate being adapted to engage and feed downward the clip stack deposited within'said chamber.

I 5. In a device for the purposes described as defined in claim 1 including, spring detent means carried by said jaw blocks adapted to be inwardly projected during downward movements of the latter intermediate the lowermost clip and V the remainder of the clip stack, whereby to restrain downward movement of the latter while the former is operatively engaged and manipulated by said jaw blocks.

.6. In a device for the purposes described as defined in claim 3 including, detent means carried by said jaw blocks and adapted to be projected upon operative movements of the latter intermediate the lowermost clip and the remainderrof the clip stack, whereby to restrain downward movement of the latter while the former is operatively engaged and manipulated by the jaw blocks.

7. In a device for the purposes described, a body' formed to provide an axially extending magazine chamber to hold a'stack of clips for downward feeding movement toward the discharge mouth of said chamber, said body having tion to an incision to which the device is applied. r

8. In a'device for the purposes described, a body formed to provide an axially extending magazine chamber to hold a stack of clips for downward feeding movement toward the discharge mouth of said chamber, said body having a removable cover plate which when removed gives access to said chamber for depositing clips therein, a spring actuated follower plate within said chamber to engage and feed downward the clip stack deposited within the latter, releasable means to hold said follower plate in upraised inactive position while clips are being stacked in said cham:

ber, said body having at its sides downwardly and inwardly inclined slideways to communi-r cate with the lower end of said chamber adja cent to its discharge mouth, jaw'blocks slidable in said slideways, said jaw blocks having at their lower free ends clip end receiving'sockets and clip stop projections extending therefrom whereby to engage the ends of a lowermost clip dis- 7 posed at the discharge mouth of said chamber,

7 means carried by said jaw blocks adapted to be,

a removable'cover plate which when removed gives access to said chamber for depositing clips therein, a spring actuated follower plate withtherefrom whereby to engage the ends of a lowermost clip disposed at the discharge mouth of said chamber, and manipulatable means for actuating said jaw blocksto discharge and operatively apply the engaged clip in suturing relajaw blocks, and said thrust member and body having finger engageable means whereby to actuate the former for transmitting operative sliding movement to said jaw blocks to discharge and operatively apply the engaged clip in suturiig relation to an incision to'which the device is applied.

9. In a device for the purposes described as defined in claim 7 the addition of spring detent inwardly projected during downward movements of the latter intermediate the lowermost clip and the remainder of the clipsack, whereby to restrain downward movement of the latter while the former is operatlvely engaged andmanipulated by said jaw blocks.

10. In a device for the purposes described as defined in claim 8, the addition of spring detent means carried by said jaw blocks and adapted to be inwardly projected during downward movements of the latter intermediate the lowermost clip and the remainder of the clip; stack, whereby to restrain downward movement of the latter while the former is operatively engaged and manipulated by the jaw blocks.

11. A clip applicator comprisingtwo relatively reciprocable partseach of which has finger engageable means for manipulation. thereof, one of said parts also having a clip-holding magazine provided with a discharge opening at one end, a pair of jaws mounted on one of said parts at opposite sides of said discharge opening for composite movement toward each other and 10ngitudina lly outwardly beyond said discharge opening to remove'a clip from said discharge opening and clinch the clip, and; means for actuating said jaws upon relative reciprocation of said parts. V 7 1.2. A clip applicator comprising two relatively recip-rocable parts each of which has finger en:

gageable means for manipulation thereof, one of said parts also having a clip-holding chamber provided with a discharge openingrat one end,

a pair of laws mounted on said one'of said partsat oppositesides of said discharge opening for reciprocation toward each other and Iongitudinally outwardly from said discharge opening and away from each other and longitudinally inwardly toward said discharge opening, the juxtaposed ends of said jaws being formed to grip and remove a clip from said discharge opening and then clinch said clip and to release said clips as said jaws move toward, and from each other respectively, and an operative connection between said jaws and the other of said parts for reciprocating said jaws upon reciprocation of said parts.

13. A clip applicator comprising an elongate body having a longitudinally extending clip-holding magazine chamber therein provided with a discharge opening at one end, a pair of jaws mounted on said body at opposite sides of said discharge openings for composite movement toward each other and longitudinally outwardly beyond said end of said body, the juxtaposed ends of said jaws being formed to grip and remove a clip from said discharge opening and then clinch said clip as said jaws move toward each other, a thrust member mounted for reciprocation upon said body, and operative connections between said thrust member and said jaws for actuating the latter upon reciprocation of said thrust member.

14. A clip applicator comprising an elongate body having a longitudinally extending clipholding chamber therein provided with a discharge opening at one end, a pair of jaws mounted on said body at opposite sides of said discharge opening for reciprocation longitudinally outwardly beyond said discharge opening and toward each other and longitudinally inwardly toward said discharge opening and away from each other transversely of said opening to engage the ends of and remove a clip from said discharge opening and then clinch said clip and to release said clip as said jaws move toward and from each other respectively, a thrust member mounted on said body for reciprocation longitudinally thereof, and operative connections between said thrust member and said jaws for actuating the latter upon reciprocation of said thrust member, said body and said thrust member having finger engageable means for relative reciprocation thereof.

15. A clip applicator comprising an elongate body having a longitudinally extending clip-holding magazine chamber therein provided with a discharge opening at one end, a pair of jaws mounted on said body at opposite sides of said discharge opening for composite movement toward each other and outwardly beyond said end of said body, the juxtaposed ends of said jaws being formed to grip and remove a clip from said discharge opening and then clinch said clip as said jaws move toward each other, a thrust member mounted for reciprocation upon said body and a link connecting each of said jaws with said thrust member, said body and said thrust member having finger engageable means whereby said thrust member can be reciprocated.

16. A clip applicator comprising a body having a clip-holding magazin chamber provided with a discharge opening, said body having a slideway at each of two opposite sides of said discharge opening in convergent relation to each other and intersecting said discharge opening, a jaw longitudinally slidable in each said slideway for composite movement toward the other jaw and outwardly from said discharge opening to grip and remove a clip from said opening an clinch said clip upon movement of said jaws toward each other, and means for actuating said aws.

17. The clip applicator defined in claim 16 wherein said slideways and said jaws are longitudinally arcuately curved, and the last-mentioned means includes a thrust member recipr-ocable on said body and links connecting said thrust member to said jaws whereby reciprocation of thrust member will reciprocate said jaws.

FRANK R. MASKREY. 

